Former Blackpool Tower owner increases his fortune

Tim Gavell

The former owner of Blackpool Tower and Winter Gardens, businessman Trevor Hemmings, has added £125m to his wealth in the past year, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.

The 81-year-old property tycoon, racehorse and PNE owner is now worth £850m making him the ninth richest person in the region according to the list, which has been published since 1989.

But the title of the richest man in the north west goes to Hugh Grosvenor, the seventh Duke of Westminster, with a fortune of £9.52bn –and he’s just 26-years-old.

The businessman and landowner, who owns the Abbeystead Estate in Lancashire, saw his value rise £170m since last year. He took over the family estate after the death of his father Gerald last year.

As well as being the richest in the North West, he is one of the youngest names on list of the 1,000 wealthiest Brits. Robert Watts, who compiles rich list, said: “Our North West list is an intriguing mix of old money and new, with the head of long-running family businesses rubbing shoulders with exciting new entrepreneurial talent.”